Amber L. Ferris, Doctoral Candidate
Educational Background:
PhD, Communication Studies, Kent State University (expected May 2008)
MA, Communication, Michigan State University (May 2004)
BA, English, Michigan State University (December 2000)
Email: aferris@kent.edu
Curriculum Vitae (last updated July 2007)
Welcome to my website! Please feel free to check out some of the links and information I've provided here...
Teaching information:
I am currently working as an adjunct instructor at the Stark Campus at Kent State University. Thus far in my academic career, I've had the opportunity to teach Foundations of Communication, Communication Theory, Interpersonal Communication, and Introduction to Human Communication. I've also interned in Research Methods and Media Effects (at MSU). Although I came into this field as a researcher, I've found that teaching is incredibly rewarding and something that I really enjoy. Click on the links below to check out sample syllabi from some of the courses I've taught.
Interpersonal Communication, Spring 2005, Summer 2005
Communication Theory, Spring 2006
Intro to Human Communication, Summer 2006
Foundations of Communication, Spring 2007
Research information:
My areas of interest are media effects and political communication. I am a television scholar at heart. I am personally a tv junkie (when I have the time!) and I believe that there is a vast landscape of opportunity for research regarding reality television, adult cartoons, verbal aggression, cultivation, time shifting (especially with DVR technology), smoking/drug use on television, and much, much more. I often take the perspective of a mediated scholar; I like to look at how the media may impact interpersonal communication. The topic of my thesis focused on how heavy viewers of reality dating shows were more likely to agree with the dating attitudes portrayed on those shows (women are sex objects, men are sex-driven and have trouble remaining faithful, and dating is a game). This research is currently in press at the Journal of Communication.
From a political standpoint, I am really interested in dissent and free speech issues. I have done some research on the reasons students may or may not "speak out" and I am working on a book chapter with Dr. Paul Haridakis regarding free speech restrictions after 9/11. I have also been exploring the role of speech topic restriction in the basic public speaking course to determine how students and instructors view free speech in the classroom in collaboration with fellow doctoral students at KSU. I am also interested in how entertainment television may shape political attitudes or be a source for political information.
My dissertation topic and most recent area of research is the cellular phone. This area may seem like left field for a tv scholar, but there is something inherently interesting about a device that allows you to communicate to a large number of people on an individual basis. My focus is on cell phone dependency. At this point, I'm looking at studying the cell phone under the uses and gratifications/uses and dependency model to determine what factors might be involved with the feeling of being dependent on your cell phone. I think this technology has important implications at both the individual and societal levels, so I'm looking forward to exploring this subject further.
Personal information:
I am the oldest of four children, and I'm happy to add two new members to the Ferris siblings, fiance's Dave and Lyndsey. I've got a 113 pound hippie black lab named Nova, who is tons of fun. Literally. I love academia and have been pretty involved at Kent State University in various service capacities. I am currently the president of the Communication Graduate Student Association (CGSA) and was formerly the Colloquium Chair for the Graduate Student Senate. In my free time I like to play ping pong and lots of other competitive activities, hang out with friends (especially for a little tv co-viewing!), and generally try to enjoy life.
The Ferris Siblings Nova Poster for the Colloquium